The Beagle
Oct 26, 2016
BOTTLER OF A RECYCLING SCHEME
Member for Bega Andrew Constance has welcomed the successful passage of the NSW
Government’s landmark 10-cent Container Deposit Scheme legislation through Parliament
yesterday.
Mr Constance said individuals and community groups will be able to swap their cans and
bottles for cash from 1 July 2017 following the successful passage of the legislation on
Wednesday 19 October.
“This is fantastic news for our region as kids, adults community groups and schools will be
able to collect cans and return them to collection points for a bit of pocket money or as a
fundraising possibility.
“There was an incentive to pick up rubbish take it to the local scrap metal or cordial factory
and keep our local communities and waterways clean, we are on our way to returning that
incentive,” Mr Constance said.
“People can be lazy and downright ignorant when it come to their rubbish. I would hope that
the ability to collect a few extra dollars might see some think twice before throwing their
bottles and cans out the car window.
“The Container Deposit Scheme’s introduction fulfils a key election commitment and will help
the Government to meet the Premier’s Priority goal of reducing litter in NSW by 40 per cent
by 2020.”
The Waste and Resource Recovery Amendment (Container Deposit Scheme) Act 2016
paves the way for a cost-effective, best-practice scheme that will benefit both the community
and the environment.
Under the container deposit scheme:
- People in NSW will be able to return empty prescribed beverage containers between
150 ml and three litres to collection points for a 10-cent refund.
- A single Scheme Coordinator will be responsible for the financial management of the
scheme and for ensuring the scheme meets state-wide targets.
- Beverage suppliers will be responsible for covering the costs of refunds through
agreements with the Scheme Coordinator.
The Environment Minister Mark Speakman will appoint the co-ordinator in early 2017,
as well as appointing Network Operators who will be responsible for the operation of
the scheme.
Containers not eligible for the scheme are those generally consumed at home and not
typically found in the litter stream. They include plain milk, wine, pure fruit juice (more than 1
litre), health tonics and large flavoured milk containers.
Environment Minister Mark Speakman said he was delighted by the overwhelming support
from all sides of politics for the NSW Government’s Container Deposit Scheme.
“This is something that the community has been asking their political representatives for
decades and this government is finally delivering it,” Mr Speakman said.
“The 2015-2016 National Litter Index found that 49 per cent of litter by volume was made up
of beverage containers – and 43 per cent of the total volume was containers that will be
caught by the NSW CDS.
“This is a clear sign that there is likely to be a direct environmental benefit to our parks,
waterways and beaches when the CDS comes in. Giving people a financial incentive to do
the right thing will benefit everyone.”
More information is available at www.epa.nsw.gov.au/waste/container-deposit- scheme.htm
Media Release